Strip-pack manufacturing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus is arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article to a tape at a prescribed affixing position, and includes a transporting mechanism, a grasping section, a transfer mechanism, an affixing mechanism, and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism. The transporting mechanism is arranged to transport the article to the receiving position with the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front. The transfer mechanism is arranged to transfer the article from the receiving position to the affixing position in a state wherein the article is grasped at the project portion by the grasping section. The affixing mechanism is arranged to affix the article to the tape at the affixing position. The wrinkle smoothing mechanism is disposed at the receiving position and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the projecting portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-134880 filed on May 15, 2006. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-134880 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus configured and arranged to affix a plurality of articles to a strip of tape so that those articles can be displayed in a suspended state.

2. Background Information

Conventionally, numerous articles, each of which contains snacks and the like wrapped by a soft packaging material such as plastic film, are affixed to a strip of tape, and displayed in, for example, a retail shop by suspending them from one end part of the tape. Because the combination of the articles and the design of the tape can form the entire design, such a display mode can achieve excellent display effects, which makes it possible to motivate buyers to purchase the product.

Examples of the conventional strip-pack manufacturing apparatus that manufactures such a strip and bags combination are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2004-182302 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895. These conventional apparatuses are incorporated directly below or in the vicinity of a transverse seal apparatus in a vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus. The articles obtained by transverse sealing are grasped at the relatively upper parts in both the right and left side parts thereof at a receiving position of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus that is directly below the transverse seal apparatus. Then, the articles are transferred to an affixing position of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus, which is below or in front of the receiving position. Furthermore, the transverse seal part of each article is affixed at the affixing position to tape, which is separately supplied.

Nevertheless, since the conventional strip-pack manufacturing apparatuses discussed above are integrally incorporated directly below or in the vicinity of the bag manufacturing and packaging machine, the manufactured articles (strip-pack) cannot be stabilized and affixed to the tape unless the abovementioned grasping, transferring, and affixing processes are linked to the bag manufacturing operation of the packaging machine when they are performed. Accordingly, strip-pack manufacturing is limited to the use of articles that are manufactured by a packaging machine in the conventional strip-pack manufacturing apparatus. Consequently, only articles of the same type can be affixed to a supplied tape. For example, it is not possible to affix multiple types of articles to a tape, or to affix articles of a packaging mode other than bag packaging, and therefore the need to further enhance the display effect cannot be met. Accordingly, there is a problem from the perspective of overall versatility.

In addition, because each of the conventional strip-pack manufacturing apparatuses disclosed in the above mentioned references is provided so that it is disposed directly below a bag manufacturing and packaging machine, there is also a problem in that it is not possible to handle articles that have been inspected by an inspection apparatus, such as a weight checker or a seal checker. In other words, in the conventional strip-pack manufacturing apparatuses, the articles are affixed to the tape without going through inspection by the weight checker or the seal checker. Therefore, from the perspective of quality, it may not be possible to effectively manufacture reliable strip-packs whereto articles are affixed.

In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved strip-pack manufacturing apparatus. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve such problem, the present applicant has proposed an apparatus with excellent versatility that is arranged as a unit that is independent from upstream side apparatuses such as a bag manufacturing and packaging machine. Such apparatus includes a transferring mechanism that receives, for example, bagged or boxed articles at a receiving position and transfers them to an affixing position and an affixing section that affixes the articles to a strip of tape at an affixing position. However, there is still a problem with the abovementioned apparatus proposed by the present applicant.

More specifically, articles that have a thin projecting piece at one end may, for example, wrinkle or bend thereat. As one example, as shown with a pillow-type bagged article X as shown in FIG. 19, wrinkles may be formed at a thin transverse seal part X2 (refer to the transverse seal part X2 on the right side in FIG. 19) that protrudes from a trunk part X′ of the article X, as a result of the article X making contact with a peripheral member while it is being transported from the upstream side to the receiving position. Also, the transverse seal part X2 may bend vertically (refer to the transverse seal part X2 on the left side of FIG. 19) as a result of the article X contacting a peripheral member as discussed above because the trunk part X′ swells greatly when there is a large amount of gas, such as air, sealed therein. For the sake of convenience, FIG. 19 shows a combination of problems that can arise (i.e., the wrinkles in the transverse seal part X2 on the right side and the bend in the transverse seal part X2 on the left side of FIG. 19).

If a transverse seal part X2 is affixed to a tape in a state wherein there is a wrinkle, a bend, or the like, then the affixing strength, the affixing position, and the like will no longer be uniform, which will make it difficult to reliably affix that transverse seal part X2 on the tape and will reduce product value from the perspective of appearance.

In addition, if a transporting system is used that transports articles supplied from the upstream side to the receiving position, then it may be difficult to stabilize and position the articles at the receiving position just by performing control that starts and stops the transporting system, and the transferring mechanism will no longer be able to transfer the articles to the affixing position by grasping them at a prescribed location. As a result, the position at which articles are affixed to the tape becomes nonuniform, which reduces product value.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to reliably affix articles and improve their affixed appearance on the tape in a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus that receives the articles with at least one end of each of the articles having a projecting piece, which are transported to a prescribed receiving position, and affixes the articles to a tape at a prescribed affixing position.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus is configured and arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion on at least one end thereof at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article to a striped-shaped tape at a prescribed affixing position. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus includes a transporting mechanism, a grasping section, a transfer mechanism, an affixing mechanism, and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism. The transporting mechanism is configured and arranged to transport the article to the prescribed receiving position with the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front with respect to a direction of travel. The grasping section is configured and arranged to grasp the projecting portion of the article that is transported by the transporting mechanism at the prescribed receiving position. The transfer mechanism is configured and arranged to transfer the article from the prescribed receiving position to the prescribed affixing position in a state wherein the article is grasped by the grasping section. The affixing mechanism is configured and arranged to affix the article to the stripped-shaped tape at the prescribed affixing position. The wrinkle smoothing mechanism is disposed at the prescribed receiving position and configured and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the projecting portion of the article.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a production system according to an illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a packaged article as viewed from the longitudinal seal part side according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a third conveyor of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the third conveyor of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the principal parts of the third conveyor of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a transfer mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the principal parts of the transfer mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the transfer mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a tape transport mechanism and an affixing mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a side elevational view of the principal parts of a cutting unit of the tape transport mechanism illustrating its operation when only a punch hole is formed according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the principal parts of the cutting unit of the tape transport mechanism illustrating its operation when both a punch hole is formed and tape is cut;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a wrinkle smoothing mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is top a plan view of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism that shows a state wherein the lower rotary brush has been retracted according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a top guide member coupled to the wrinkle smoothing mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a control block diagram of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a modified wrinkle smoothing mechanism wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is selectively raised or lowered according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism for explaining a case wherein a boxed article has been supplied to the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an article for explaining the problems with the conventional apparatus;

FIG. 20 is a partial schematic side view illustrating a problem that occurs when rotary brushes are used that have small diameters in order to better explain the effects of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view corresponding FIG. 20 for explaining the effects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a manufacturing system 1 including a string-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 is illustrated in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing system 1 is configured and arranged to manufacture a plurality of strip-packs Y as products by manufacturing a plurality of bagged articles X that are each filled with contents such as snack food, and then by affixing a prescribed number of the articles X to a strip-shaped tape T, which is fed from a tape roll R. The manufacturing system 1 includes, starting from an upstream side with respect to the manufacturing process, a vertical bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2, a first relay conveyor 3, a weight checker 4, a second relay conveyor 5, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6, and a discharge conveyor 7. The weight checker 4 includes a sorting apparatus 4a. The articles X or the strip-packs Y are dropped or transported as shown by arrows A1-A10 in FIG. 1.

The bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 has a well known configuration that wraps contents by vertically and transversely sealing a soft packaging material such as plastic film. More specifically, the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 is configured and arranged to place both the left and right edge parts of the supplied strip shaped soft packaging material to overlap each other to form a tubular shape, to seal this overlapped part in the longitudinal direction, and then to seal the tubular soft packaging material, which contains the contents, in the width (transverse) direction and cut the formed transverse seal part at its center in the width direction, thereby obtaining a bagged article X that has a longitudinal seal part X1 at substantially the center of a trunk part X′ and two transverse seal parts X2 (protruding portion) (one at each longitudinal end) as shown in FIG. 2.

The first relay conveyor 3 is a flat belt system is configured and arranged to receive the articles X, which are supplied from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 by being dropped as indicated by the arrow A1, and to transport such in the direction of the arrow A2. Furthermore, the transport surface of the first relay conveyor 3 is inclined upward toward the downstream side.

The weight checker 4 is configured and arranged to weigh each article X that is received from the first relay conveyor 3 while transporting such in the direction of the arrow A3. The sorting apparatus 4 a is configured and arranged to pass the nondefective articles to the downstream side and to forcibly discharge defective articles, such as underweight articles or overweight articles, from the transport pathway.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, both the second relay conveyor 5 and the discharge conveyor 7, which are provided respectively on the upstream and downstream sides of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 so that they sandwich such, are flat belt systems. The second relay conveyor 5 is configured and arranged to receive nondefective articles X from the weight checker 4, to orient each article X so that its transverse seal parts X2 are respectively frontward and rearward, to transport it in the direction of the arrow A4, and then to transfer it to the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6. The discharge conveyor 7 is configured and arranged receive the strip-packs Y obtained from the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 and to discharge them to the downstream side, as indicated by the arrow A10. Furthermore, the transport surface of the second relay conveyor 5 is substantially flat. The transport surface of the discharge conveyor 7 is inclined upward toward the downstream side as shown in FIG. 2.

The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6, which is the featured portion of the present invention, is configured as a unit that is independent from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 includes a first conveyor 11, a second conveyor 12, a third conveyor 13 (transporting mechanism), a transfer mechanism 14, a tape transport mechanism 15, an affixing mechanism 16, and a receiving platform 17. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 further includes a wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 and a top guide member 19. All of the components of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 are assembled on the main body frame 6 a as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the articles X are transported or dropped as indicated by the arrows A5-A9. In FIG. 3, a symbol P1 indicates the position (a prescribed receiving position) at which the transfer mechanism 14 receives the articles X from the third conveyor 13, and a symbol P2, which is set below the receiving position P1, indicates the position (a prescribed affixing position) at which the affixing mechanism 16 affixes the articles X, which are transferred from the transfer mechanism 14, to the tape T. Moreover, the tape T is paid out from the tape roll R, which is rotatably supported by the main body frame 6 a at the rear portion thereof, and transported frontward until it reaches the affixing position P2.

The first and second conveyors 11 and 12 are both flat belt systems with opposite transport directions A5 and A7, and are provided and disposed so that the first conveyor 11 is above the second conveyor 12 and their downstream sides mutually overlap. In addition, the first conveyor 11 includes a pair of side guide members 11 a (only one side guide member 11 a disposed on the near side one shown in FIG. 3) that sandwich the articles X and guide them in the transport direction A5. Also, the second conveyor 12 includes a pair of side guide members 12 a (only one side guide member 12 a disposed on the near side is shown in FIG. 3) that sandwich the articles X and guide them in the transport direction A7. Furthermore, the second conveyor 12, which transports the articles X in the direction of the receiving position P1, includes a stopper member 12 b at its upstream side end part in order to prevent the articles X, which are supplied by being dropped from the first conveyor 11 as indicated by the arrow A6, from falling off the second conveyor 12.

The third conveyor 13 (transporting mechanism) is provided so that it is coupled to the downstream side end part of the second conveyor 12. The third conveyor 13 is configured and arranged to transport each article X received from the second conveyor 12 to the receiving position P1. The third conveyor 13 includes a pair of units 20 (end part) (one each on the left and right sides) as shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6. These units 20 have mirror images of the same configuration. Furthermore, for the reader's reference, the figures separately show a case wherein the article X is a large bag XL and a case wherein the article X is a small bag X_(S) in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6.

Each of the units 20 includes a rotary shaft 21 that extends in the transport direction A7, a motor 23, which is supported by a support platform 22 and drives the rotary shaft 21, and first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄, which are provided and disposed at 90° intervals about the rotary shaft 21. Each of the subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ is a flat belt system and includes a follower roller 24 a and a driver roller 24 b on the upstream and downstream sides, respectively. Further, a flat belt 24 c is wound around the two rollers 24 a and 24 b. Each of the rollers 24 b protrudes by a prescribed length from the flat belt 24 c on the rotary shaft 21 side. Furthermore, each of the rollers 24 a and 24 b is preferably made of resin in order to reduce weight.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary shaft 21 of the left side unit 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow A11, and the rotary shaft 21 of the right side unit 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow AA11, i.e., they rotate in opposite directions. More specifically, the side edges of the left and right first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ that are adjacent to each other rotate downward about the side edges that are mutually spaced apart (i.e., about the rotary shaft 21). Accordingly, each right and left pair of the first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ can cooperate to form a transport surface whereon the article X is transported to the receiving position P1, and then eliminate that transport surface and drop the article X, which was on that transport surface, in the direction of the affixing position P2 as indicated by the arrow A8. Furthermore, the transport surface of the second conveyor 12 and the transport surface that is formed by each corresponding right and left pair of the first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ of the third conveyor 13 are set so that they are at substantially the same height. Therefore, the units 20 are configured and arranged to selectively switch between a holding state wherein the article X is supported horizontally at the receiving position P1 and a dropping state wherein the article X is dropped downward from the receiving position P1.

The outer circumferential surface of the protruding part of each driver roller 24 b discussed above has alternating projections and recesses. Each unit 20 is provided with a timing pulley 25 that circumferentially contacts the protrusion formed on the outer circumferential surface of each of the driver rollers 24. Each timing pulley 25 has a urethane rubber layer on its outer circumferential surface so that its rotation is reliably transmitted to one of the driver rollers 24 b via its protruding part. FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example in which each timing pulley 25 circumferentially contacts the protrusion of the driver roller 24 b of each of the third subconveyor 24 ₃.

Each timing pulley 25 is coupled via an orthogonal gear head 27 a to an output shaft of a motor 27, which is supported by a support platform 26 and includes a brake function. Furthermore, each motor 27 is installed on the corresponding support platform 26. An output rod of each motor 27 is coupled to an air cylinder 28, which advances and retracts in the directions of the arrows A11 and AA11 in FIG. 6. The drive of the air cylinder 28 causes the timing pulley 25 and the driver roller 24 b to circumferentially contact one another or to release such contact.

In addition, in each unit 20, the driver rollers 24 b (which sandwich the rotary shaft 21) of the second subconveyor 24 ₂ and of the opposite side fourth subconveyor 24 ₄ are integrated. Thus, the flat belts 24 c of both subconveyors 24 ₂ and 24 ₄ run simultaneously when the motive power of the transport motor 27 is transmitted via the timing pulley 25 to the protrusion of one of the driver rollers 24 b.

On the other hand, in each unit 20, the driver rollers 24 b (which sandwich the rotary shaft 21) of the first subconveyor 24, and the opposite side third subconveyor 24 ₃ are divided. Accordingly, two auxiliary rollers 29, which make circumferential contact from the side opposite the timing pulley 25, are provided to the protrusions of the driver rollers 24 b of both subconveyors 24 ₁ and 24 ₃. These auxiliary rollers 29 are positioned on opposite sides so that they sandwich the rotary shaft 21, and are coupled by a shaft that passes therethrough. Therefore, when the motive power of the transport motor 27 is transmitted via the timing pulley 25 to the protrusion part of the driver roller 24 b of one of the subconveyors (the third subconveyor 24 ₃ in FIG. 4), the motive power is transmitted via both auxiliary rollers 29 to the driver roller 24 b of the other subconveyor (the first subconveyor 24 ₁ in FIG. 4), and the flat belts 24 c of both subconveyors 24 ₁ and 24 ₃ thereby run simultaneously.

As shown in FIG. 4, an article detection sensor 30 configured and arranged to detect the transported article X is installed above the vicinity of the downstream side end part of the second conveyor 12. In addition, on each support platform 22, a rotational angle detection sensor 31 is installed that is configured and arranged to detect the rotational position of the rotary shaft 21 via the rotation of the output shaft of the rotary motor 23.

As shown in FIG. 7 through FIG. 9, the transfer mechanism 14 is configured and arranged to receive each article X from the third conveyor 13 at the receiving position P1 above and to transport each article X to the affixing position P2 below, as indicated by the arrow A8. The transfer mechanism 14 includes a support plate 41, a pair of support blocks 42, a pair of support rods 43, a pair of arm members 44 and a pair (left and right) of chuck members 45 (grasping section). The support plate 41 is provided on the downstream side of the third conveyor 13 in the transport direction A7 of the article X. One of the support blocks 42 is attached to the left and the other to the right end part of the front surface of the support plate 41. The support rods 43 extend from the support blocks 42 in a direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction A7. The arm members 44 extend frontward and are externally fit to the support rods 43, respectively, so that they are movable therealong by the operation of handles 44 a. The chuck members 45 are respectively attached to the tip parts of the arm members 44. The chuck members 45 are configured and arranged to grasp both transverse side ends of one of the transverse seal parts X2 (or the vicinity thereof) of the article X (i.e., the upper transverse seal part X2 during manufacturing) on top and bottom surfaces of the transverse seal part X2. Furthermore, an actuator is built into each of the arm member 44, which is configured and arranged to selectively open and close the corresponding upper and lower pair of the chuck members 45 to grasp the transverse seal part X2.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a guide block 46 is fixedly provided to the right side end part of the rear surface of the support plate 41. The guide block 46 is slidably and externally fit to a guide rod 48, which extends between upper and lower brackets 47 that are supported by the main body frame 6 a.

Moreover, in the vicinity of the left side end part of the rear surface of the support plate 41, a motor operated cylinder 50, which extends vertically, is attached to a bracket 49, which is supported by the main body frame 6 a. Furthermore, a slider 50 b, which slides in the directions of the arrows A8 and AA8 in FIG. 9 with respect to a main body 50 a of the motor operated cylinder 50, is fixedly provided to the support plate 41. FIG. 9 illustrates an elevational view of the transfer mechanism 14 as viewed in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A7 in FIG. 7.

The following will now explain how each part of the transfer mechanism 14 is adjustably configured for the case wherein the article X, which is transported from the upstream side, is a large bag X_(L), and for the case wherein it is a small bag X_(S).

First, as shown in FIG. 7, the width (transverse width) dimension of the article X, i.e. the width dimension of the transverse seal parts X2, that is transported to the receiving position P1 by the third conveyor 13 differs for a large bag X_(L) and a small bag X_(S). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the spacing between the right and left chuck members 45 can be adjusted to a spacing W_(L) for a large bag X_(L), and to a spacing W_(S) for a small bag X_(S). More specifically, the chuck members 45 can accurately grasp the transverse seal part X2 _(L) or X2 _(S) of a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S) (or the vicinity thereof) by manually adjusting the fixing positions of the arm members 44 along the pair of support rods 43 via the handles 44 a in accordance with whether the article X is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S).

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the height position of the transverse seal parts X2 of the article X transported by the third conveyor 13 to the receiving position P1 differs depending on whether it is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S). Therefore, as shown in the figures, the height of the left and right chuck members 45 can be adjusted based on a height H_(L) of the transverse seal parts X2 _(L) from the third conveyor 13 for large bags X_(L), or likewise based on a height H_(S) of the transverse seal parts X2 _(S) from the third conveyor 13 for small bags X_(S). More specifically, the height position of the chuck members 45, i.e., the receiving position P1, can be adjusted by controlling the drive of the motor operated cylinder 50. Furthermore, regardless of whether the article X is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S), the height of the affixing position P2 is fixedly set, and only the article X transfer stroke performed by the transfer mechanism 14 differs for the large bags X_(L) and the small bags X_(S).

As shown in FIG. 10, the tape transport mechanism 15 is used for transporting the tape T, which is paid out from the tape roll R, to the affixing position P2. More specifically, the tape T is transported to the affixing position P2 by two transport rollers 62 and two pressing rollers 63, which are rotatably supported by a support plate 61 that is supported by the main body frame 6 a. More specifically, a motor 65 is attached to a bracket 64, which is supported by the main body frame 6 a, and a timing belt 67 is wound around a pulley 65 a, a pulley 66, and a pair of pulleys 62 a. The pulley 65 a is assembled onto an output shaft of the motor 65. The pulley 66 is rotatably supported by the support plate 61. The pulleys 62 a are assembled coaxially with the transport rollers 62. Therefore, the motive power of the motor 65 is transmitted to the two pulleys 62 a as well as the two transport rollers 62 via the timing belt 67, thereby feeding the tape T frontward.

As shown in FIG. 10, the affixing mechanism 16 is configured and arranged to affix the article X, which is transferred by the transfer mechanism 14 from the receiving position P1 above to the affixing position P2 in the direction of the arrow A8, to the tape T, which is transported by the tape transport mechanism 15. The affixing mechanism 16 includes a heater block 71, which heats the tape T and the transverse seal part X2 of the article X. The heater block 71 is attached to a bracket 72, which is supported by the main body frame 6 a. Furthermore, an air cylinder 73 is installed on the bracket 72, and a dissolution prevention plate 74, which extends so that it is inclined upward and rearward, is attached to a tip part of an output rod of the air cylinder 73, which advances and retracts in the vertical direction. The dissolution prevention plate 74 serves to prevent the dissolution of the tape T due to overheating by moving upward in order to push the tape T upward from below and separate it from the heater block 71.

In addition, the affixing mechanism 16 includes a clamp member 75, which presses the tape T and the transverse seal part X2 of the article X to the heater block 71. The clamp member 75 swings about a spindle 75 a (as indicated by arrows A13 and AA13 between positions indicated by the solid lines and the chain double dashed lines in FIG. 10) by the action of a motor (not shown). When the clamp member 75 swings in the direction of the arrow A13, an oscillating end part clamps the transverse seal part X2 of the article X (positioned above the tape T) and the tape T (positioned below the transverse seal part X2), and presses them against the heater block 71, thereby welding them.

In addition, a cutting unit 76 is provided and disposed in the transport pathway of the tape T on the upstream side of the heater block 71 and the downstream side of the tape transport mechanism 15. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the cutting unit 76 includes an air cylinder 77 an upstream side punch 78, and a downstream side cutter 79. The upstream side punch 78 and the downstream side cutter 79 are attached to a tip part of an output rod of the air cylinder 77, which advances and retracts in the vertical direction. The punch 78 forms a hole for suspending the strip-pack Y, i.e., the product, in the tape T, and the cutter 79 cuts the tape T.

At that time, the tip part of the punch 78 retracts slightly downward from the tip part of the cutter 79, and the advancing and retracting strokes of the output rod of the air cylinder 77 are set to two levels, e.g., 10 mm and 20 mm. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the output rod of the air cylinder 77 advances by a stroke of 10 mm, the punch 78 and the cutter 79 move upward (as indicated by arrow A14) from the initial position indicated by the chain double dashed lines to the position indicated by the solid lines, and the punch 78 passes through the tape T and forms a punch hole, but the cutter 79 falls short of cutting the tape T.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the output rod of the air cylinder 77 advances by a stroke of 20 mm, the punch 78 and the cutter 79 move upward (as indicated by arrow AA14) from the initial position indicated by the chain double dashed lines to a position indicated by a solid lines, whereupon the punch 78 passes through the tape T and forms a punch hole and the cutter 79 cuts the tape T.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 is supported by being suspended between a pair of brackets 6 b (one each on the right and left sides), which are fixed to the main body frame 6 a.

More specifically, a mounting member 82 is provided so that it extends from the support plate 81 (rectangular in a side view) in the width direction of the article X that is transported (as indicated by the arrow A7) by the third conveyor 13. Furthermore, two first arm members 83, which both extend in the direction of the article X, and two second arm members 84, which further extend from the tip parts of the first arm member 83, are provided with one of each on the left and the right side of the lower part of the mounting member 82. Each second arm member 84 is coupled to a corresponding first arm member 83 by a bolt 85 through a slot 83 a, which is provided to the tip part of that first arm member 83 and extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical position of the second arm member 84 with respect to the first arm member 83 can be changed.

Two linking members 86, which are both L-shaped in a plan view, are respectively attached to the outer sides of the first arm members 83 that are mounted to the mounting member 82, and the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 is supported by the brackets 6 b as well as the main body frame 6 a via these linking members 86. In addition, a shaft 87 is rotatably provided between both the upper and lower pairs of first arm members 83 so that it spans therebetween, and a shaft 88 is rotatably provided between the tip parts of both the upper and lower pairs of the second arm members 84 so that it spans therebetween.

A motor 92 is attached to the support plate 81 via four linking rods 91. Furthermore, a timing belt 93 is wound around a pulley 92 b, which is assembled on an output shaft 92 a of the motor 92, and a pulley 87 a, which is assembled on the shaft 87 of the first arm members 83 in the vicinity of its right side end part. In addition, a timing belt 94 is wound around a pulley 87 b, which is assembled on the shaft 87 of the first arm members 83 in the vicinity of its center, and a pulley 88 a, which is assembled on the shaft 88 of the second arm members 84 in the vicinity of its center. In addition, a rubber coated roller 95, which has a rubber layer on its outer circumferential part, is coaxially assembled in the vicinity of the pulley 87 b of the first arm members 83.

An upper rotary brush 96 is assembled on the shaft 88 of the second arm members 84. The rotary brush 96 includes multiple split brushes 96 a (brush portions) that are spaced apart at a prescribed interval in an axial direction of the shaft 88. Furthermore, the brush hairs are preferably made of a relatively hard resin.

Moreover, an air cylinder 102 is attached below the motor 92 via a mounting plate 101. Furthermore, other left and right pairs of first and second arm members 83 and 84, which are similar to those discussed earlier, extend in the article X direction via a laterally extending bracket 103 and a mounting member 104. The bracket 103 is L shaped in a side view and is fixedly provided to a tip part of an advancing and retracting (indicated by arrows A15 and AA15) output rod 102 a of the air cylinder 102. The mounting member 104 is fixedly provided to the bracket 103. Each of these second arm members 84 is coupled to its corresponding first arm member 83 by another bolt 85 through another slot 83 a that is provided to a tip part of that first arm member 83 and extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical position of the second arm member 84 with respect to the first arm member 83 can be changed.

Another shaft 87 is rotatably provided between both first arm members 83 so that it spans therebetween, and another shaft 88 is rotatably provided between the tip parts of both second arm members 84, and another timing belt 94 is wound around another pulley 87 b, which is assembled on the shaft 87 of the first arm members 83 in the vicinity of its center, and another pulley 88 a, which is assembled on the shaft 88 of the second arm members 84 in the vicinity of its center. Furthermore, a rubber coated roller 95, which has a rubber layer at its outer circumferential part, is assembled in the vicinity of the pulley 87 b of the first arm members 83.

A lower rotary brush 96, which includes other split brushes 96 a (brush portions) that have the similar structure as the split brushes 96 a discussed earlier, is assembled on the shaft 88 of the second arm members 84. Furthermore, this lower rotary brush 96 has the same diameter as the upper rotary brush 96. In addition, the width dimension of the rotary brushes 96 is set in accordance with the width dimension of the transverse seal parts X2 of the article X, e.g., if the width dimension of the transverse seal parts X2 is 135 mm, then the width dimension of the rotary brushes 96 is preferably set to 50 mm. Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the precise dimensions and the relative dimensions of the rotary brushes 96 and the article X are not limited to the arrangement described in this embodiment, and can be varied according to various considerations.

The distance between the upper and lower shafts 88 is adjusted via the slots 83 a and the bolts 85 so that, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper and lower rubber coated rollers 95 and rotary brushes 96 make circumferential contact when the output shaft 102 a of the air cylinder 102 advances in the direction of the arrow A15, and so that, as shown in FIG. 14, that circumferential contact is released when the output shaft 102 a of the air cylinder 102 retracts in the direction of the arrow AA15. More specifically, if both rubber coated rollers 95 circumferentially contact one another as shown in FIG. 12, then the output of the motor 92 is transmitted to the upper rotary brush 96 via the timing belt 93, the upper shaft 87, the upper timing belt 94, and the upper shaft 88, and is also transmitted to the lower rotary brush 96 via the lower shaft 87, the lower timing belt 94, and the lower shaft 88. Therefore, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 each rotate in the direction of the arrow A16.

Moreover, if the circumferential contact of both rubber coated rollers 95 is released as shown in FIG. 14, then the output of the motor 92 is transmitted to the upper shaft 88, and the upper rotary brush 96 therefore rotates in the direction of the arrow A16. However, the output is not transmitted to the lower shaft 88, and therefore the lower rotary brush 96 does not rotate. Furthermore, when the lower rotary brush is retracted away from the transverse seal part X2 as shown in FIG. 4, there is no longer anything below the transverse seal part X2 of the article X to prevent the article X from dropping downward in the direction indicated by the arrow A8.

As shown in FIG. 13, a mounting plate 111 is provided below and between the tip parts of the two upper second arm members 84 (one on the left side and one on the right side) so that it spans therebetween, multiple support rods 112 are provided so that they extend from the mounting plate 111 in the article X direction, and stopper members 113, which have bended shapes in a side view, are fixedly provided to the tip parts of the support rods 112. Each of the stopped members 113 are position so that a recess part thereof faces the transverse seal part X2 of the article X as shown in FIG. 12. More specifically, the support rods 112, i.e., the stopper members 113, are set so that their recessed parts that oppose the article X transported by the third conveyor 13 are substantially positioned along a line that connects the upper and lower shafts 88 in the state wherein the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 make circumferential contact, and so that they are positioned in the gaps between laterally adjacent split brushes 96 a as shown in FIG. 13. The angle of the stopper members 13 are adjusted so that the stopper members 13 do not interfere with the transverse seal part X2 of the transfer of the article X in the downward direction.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, the top guide member 19 is installed above the transport surfaces of the second and third conveyors 12 and 13. The top guide member 19 has a generally strip shaped (refer to FIG. 4) that extends from the downstream side of the second conveyor 12 to the vicinity of the downstream end part of the third conveyor 13. The top guide member 19 is supported so that it is cantilevered via upwardly protruding brackets 12 d extending from both side parts of the second conveyor 12. The top guide member 19 is configured and arranged to guide the tip part of each article X, which is transported in the direction of the arrow A7, to a portion between the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which is disposed at the receiving position P1.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a control system of the manufacturing system 1 will be explained in more detail. As shown in FIG. 16, a control unit 120 is provided that is configured to comprehensively control the manufacturing system 1. The control unit 120 is configured to control the operation of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 in accordance with the supply of articles X from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2, and to exchange signals with the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2. In addition, the control unit 120 is configured to exchange signals with the weight checker 4, which includes the sorting apparatus 4 a. Furthermore, the control unit 120 is configured to output a control signal to the first relay conveyor 3, the second relay conveyor 5, and the discharge conveyor 7.

The exchange of signals between the control unit 120 and the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 will now be explained. The control unit 120 is configured to first output control signals to a transport motor 11 b that is provided to the first conveyor 11, a transport motor 12 c that is provided to the second conveyor 12, the rotary motors 23 of the left and right units 20 of the third conveyor 13, the transport motors 27, and the air cylinders 28 that move the transport motors 27.

The control unit 120 is configured to output control signals to two chuck actuators 44 b, which open and close the chuck members 45 that are built into the arm members 44 of the transfer mechanism 14, the lifting motor operated cylinder 50, the transport motor 65 of the tape transport mechanism 15, the heater block 71 of the affixing mechanism 16, the air cylinder 73 for the dissolution prevention plate 74, a clamping motor 75 b, which swings the clamp member 75, and the air cylinder 77 of the cutting unit 76.

The control unit 120 is configured to receive detection signals from the article detection sensor 30 and the rotational angle detection sensors 31. More specifically, the control unit 120 is configured to receive the detection signal of the article X from the article detection sensor 30 to control the drive of, for example, the third conveyor 13 and the moving mechanism 14. The control unit 120 is configured to determine the rotational positions of the rotary shafts 21 based on the detection signals from the rotational angle detection sensors 31, and to control the drive of each of the rotary motors 23 of the third conveyor 13.

Furthermore, the control unit 120 is configured to output control signals to the motor 92, which is for rotating the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, and to the air cylinder 102, which is for moving the lower rotary brush 96.

The effect of the manufacturing system 1 will now be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bagged articles X, each of which is manufactured by the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 vertically and transversely sealing such, are supplied by being dropped onto the first relay conveyor 3. Furthermore, a manufacturing completion signal, which is output from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2, is input to the control unit 120, which controls subsequent processes. Furthermore, each article X is transported by the first relay conveyor 3 with the transverse seal part X2 that was the lower one when it was dropped oriented frontward and the transverse seal part X2 that was the upper one when it was dropped oriented rearward, and is then transferred to the weight checker 4.

Each transferred article X is weighed at the weight checker 4, after which defective articles, such as underweight articles and overweight articles, are forcibly discharged from the transport pathway by the downstream side sorting apparatus 4 a. The nondefective articles X pass by the sorting apparatus 4 a and are supplied to the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 via the second relay conveyor 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, each article X supplied from the second relay conveyor 5 is transported by the first conveyor 11 in the direction of the arrow A5, and is supplied to the second conveyor 12 below by being dropped at the downstream side end part of the first conveyor 11 as indicated by the arrow A6. The article X that is supplied by being dropped is transported by the second conveyor 12 in the direction of the arrow A7, which is the direction that is opposite from the direction of the arrow A5, i.e., in the direction of the receiving position P1. Regardless of the orientation of the article X during its transport by the first conveyor 11 above or during its transport by the second conveyor 12 below, during such transport the article X is transported by the second conveyor 12 so that the transverse seal part X2 that was the upper one when it was dropped after being manufactured is oriented frontward with respect to the direction of travel.

As shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, the article X supplied from the second conveyor 12 is transferred to one of the transport surfaces formed by the first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ of the left and right units 20 of the third conveyor 13, and is transported to the receiving position P1. In addition, the article X is transported from the second conveyor 12 to the third conveyor 13 while being guided by the top guide member 19.

In the operation of the third conveyor 13 in the above case, when the article detection sensor 30 detects the article X that is transported by the second conveyor 12, the drive of the motors 23, which rotate the pair of rotary shafts 21, is controlled based on the detection signals from the rotational angle detection sensors 31. More specifically, the drive of the motors is controlled so that a transport surface is formed by one pair of the first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ of the left and right units 20, i.e., as shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, so that the flat belts 24 _(c) of the pair of first conveyors 24 ₁ transition to a horizontal state and form a transport surface (holding state).

The motive power of the transport motors 27 provided to the pair of units 20 is transmitted, as shown in the drawings, from the motors 27 to the driver rollers 24 b of the third subconveyors 24 ₃ via the timing pulleys 25, and also from those driver rollers 24 b to the first subconveyors 24 ₁ via the auxiliary rollers 29. Therefore, the flat belts 24 c of the first subconveyors 24 ₁ run in the direction of the arrow A7. As a result, the article X is transported to the receiving position P1 by the transport surface formed by the flat belts 24 c.

When the article X reaches the receiving position P1, the drive of the transport motors 27 is stopped and the air cylinders 28 are driven. The drive of the air cylinders 28 moves the transport motors 27 in the direction of the arrow AA12 to a prescribed position, and stopping the drive of the air cylinders 28 thereafter stops the drive of the timing pulleys 25, which releases the circumferential contact between the timing pulleys 25 and the driver rollers 24 b and stops the transport of the article X. Furthermore, the provision of a brake function to the transport motors 27 makes it possible to easily keep the article X at a prescribed position on one of the transport surfaces that is formed by the left and right pairs of the first through fourth subconveyors 24 ₁-24 ₄ by stopping the drive.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the transverse seal part X2, which extends from the trunk part X′, of the article X that arrives at the receiving position P1 contacts the stopper members 113 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18. Because the plurality of stopper members 113 are set so that they are arranged along the width direction of the transverse seal part X2, the transverse seal part X2 stabilizes in the width direction and contacts the stopper members 113, thereby lining up the tip position of the transverse seal part X2 in the width direction. In other words, the stopper members 13 are configured and arranged to restrict a longitudinal movement of the article X in the direction of arrow A7 in FIG. 12.

In addition, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, which rotate in the direction of the arrow A16, contact both the upper and lower surfaces of the transverse seal part X2. Furthermore, it is expected that the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 will contact the front part of the article X and suitably smooth such.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, both side parts of the base part of the frontward transverse seal part X2 will approach relatively close to the rotary brushes 96 and will be grasped from top and bottom by the chuck members 45 of the transfer mechanism 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the output rod 102 a of the air cylinder 102 along with the lower rotary brush 96 will retract in the direction of the arrow AA15. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotary shafts 21 of the units 20 rotate by 90° in the direction of the arrows A11 and AA11, which eliminates the transport surface of the pair of first subconveyors 24, and forms a space wherein the article X can drop in the vertical direction, whereupon that article X is transferred through the space to the affixing position P2 below as indicated by the arrow A8 in a state wherein the vicinity of the transverse seal part X2 is grasped by the chuck members 45. As shown in FIG. 14, the reverse angled stopper members 113 do not interfere with the transfer of the article X.

In the present invention, the article X can be grasped by the chuck members 45 after the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 smoothes wrinkles of the transverse seal part X2 of the article X, or alternatively, the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 can smooth the wrinkles of the transverse seal part X2 of the article X after the chuck members 45 grasps the article.

The rotation of the rotary shafts 21 discussed earlier causes, as shown in the drawing, the pair of second subconveyors 24 ₂ to form a new transport surface, and driving the transport motors 27 and the air cylinders 28 causes the timing pulleys 25 to circumferentially contact the driver rollers 24 b of the second subconveyors 24 ₂ and the fourth subconveyors 24 ₄, which sandwich the rotary shafts 21. Because the driver rollers 24 b of the second subconveyors 24 ₂ and the fourth subconveyors 24 ₄ are integrated, the flat belts 24 c of the second subconveyors 24 ₂ run without going by way of the auxiliary rollers 29, and the article X supplied to the newly formed transport surface can be transported to the receiving position P1.

The operation of the transfer mechanism 14 at the receiving position P1 will now be explained. Depending on whether the article X is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S), the spacing between the left and right chuck members 45 can be adjusted (as indicated by the solid lines and the chain double dashed lines in FIG. 7) to the different spacing W_(L) or W_(S), respectively. The simplified configuration for adjusting the spacing between the left and right chuck members 45, wherein the spacing can be manually adjusted as discussed earlier, is advantageous in that it is relatively lightweight and it is easy to prevent the interference of peripheral members. Furthermore, if the spacing between the chuck members 45 is not adjusted for cases wherein the article X is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S), e.g., if the spacing W_(S) that matches the small bag X_(S) is set and a large bag X_(L) is transported, the vicinity of its transverse seal part X2 _(L) may be grasped too deeply.

In addition, as shown by the solid lines and the chain double dashed lines in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the height positions of the left and right chuck members 45, i.e., the receiving position P1, can be adjusted to match the heights H_(L) or H_(S) of the transverse seal parts X2 _(L) or X2 _(S) from the third conveyor 13 for cases wherein the article X is a large bag X_(L) or a small bag X_(S). Furthermore, if the receiving position P1 of the chuck members 45, i.e., the transfer mechanism 14, is prepared in advance in the control unit 80 for each type of article X, then it becomes possible to automatically set the receiving position P1 by, for example, issuing an instruction that includes an article code.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the tape T that is paid out from the tape roll R is transported by the tape transport mechanism 15 to the heater block 71 of the affixing mechanism 16. Furthermore, when the transverse seal part X2 (on the side grasped by the chuck members 45) of the article X, which is transferred to the affixing position P2 by the transfer mechanism 14, is applied to the tape T on the heater block 71, the clamp member 75 swings in the direction of the arrow A13 about the spindle 75 a and presses the transverse seal part X2 against the tape T. As a result, the transverse seal part X2 is welded to the tape T and the article X is thereby affixed to the tape T.

In addition, while the tape T is pinched between the clamp member 75 and the heater block 71, the punch 78 and the cutter 79 move upward by the drive of the air cylinder 77 of the cutting unit 76, and, as shown in FIG. 11, if the upward movement stroke is 10 mm, then only a punch hole is formed in the tape T by the punch 78. Moreover, if the upward movement stroke is 20 mm, then a punch hole is formed in the tape T by the punch 78 and the tape T is cut laterally by the cutter 79. Furthermore, a punch hole is formed every time one article X is affixed to the tape T, and cutting is performed every time a prescribed number of articles X is affixed to the tape T. Thereby, after the strip-pack Y is displayed and the article X is removed from the tape T, it is possible to suspend the strip-pack Y at an arbitrary length through a punch hole in accordance with that removal, and thereby to display the strip-pack Y in an attractive manner.

When the article X is affixed to the tape T, the clamp member 75 swings in the direction of the arrow AA13 about the spindle 75 a and the dissolution prevention plate 74 moves upward by the drive of the air cylinder 73, which pushes the tape T upward and forcibly separates it from the heater block 71. Furthermore, the tape T is transported frontward by the drive of the transport motor 65 of the tape transport mechanism 15, and then stands by for the next affixing operation.

By repetitively performing such an operation, a strip-pack Y, wherein a prescribed number of articles X is successively affixed to the tape T as shown in FIG. 3, is transferred to the discharge conveyor 7 via the receiving platform 17, which is inclined frontward and downward from the affixing position P2, and is then further discharged to the downstream process.

By configuring the components as described above, when the article X is transported to the receiving position P1 by the second and third conveyors 12 and 13, any wrinkles or bends in the transverse seal part X2 of the article X are smoothed by the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which is provided at the receiving position P1. Furthermore, the article X is transferred by the transfer mechanism 14 to the affixing position P2 in a state wherein the transverse seal part X2 or both side parts of the base part thereof are grasped by the chuck members 45, and is then affixed to the tape T by the affixing mechanism 16. Accordingly, any wrinkles or bends of the transverse seal part X2 are remedied, and it is therefore possible to reliably affix the transverse seal part X2 and to improve its appearance when affixed.

In addition, restraining the transverse seal part X2 of the article X, which was transported by the second and third conveyors 12 and 13, at a prescribed position via the stopper members 113 makes it possible for the transfer mechanism 14 to transfer the article X to the affixing position P2 in a state wherein a prescribed location of the article X is stabilized and grasped by the chuck members 45. As a result, the affixing strength, affixing position, and the like are further uniformized, and it is therefore possible to achieve affixing operation that is much more dependable and to greatly improve the appearance of the article X when affixed.

Furthermore, the rotary brushes 96, which sandwiches the transverse seal part X2 of the article X and rotate from the base part toward the tip end of the transverse seal part X2, can remedy any wrinkles or bends in the transverse seal part X2 without damaging such. As a result, it is possible to improve the affixed appearance from this perspective as well.

In addition, because the third conveyor 13 is configured so that it is capable of switching between the state wherein it supports the article X (holding state) and the state wherein it drops the article X downward (dropping state), the transfer stroke to the affixing position P2 is shortened, which speeds up the transfer of the article X. Because the lower rotary brush 96 of the pair of rotary brushes 96 is configured so that it can move in the direction wherein it retracts from below the transverse seal part X2, the lower rotary brush 96 moves in a direction wherein it retracts away from the transverse seal part X2 when dropping the article X downward, and thereby nothing interferes with the article X that drops and its transfer is carried out smoothly.

In addition, because it is possible to change the distance between the shafts 88, which are the rotary shafts of the pair of rotary brushes 96, in accordance with a change in the diameter of the rotary brushes 96, it is possible to accurately respond to, for example, changes in the thickness of the article X.

For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 20, when a bagged article X that has a particularly thick trunk part X′ of a thickness t makes contact with two rotary brushes B_(S) that each have a relatively small diameter d_(S), the front part of the trunk part X′ may deform as shown by the chain double dashed line. As a result, it may become difficult for the transferring mechanism to grasp the transverse seal part X2, or the base part thereof, of the article X. Furthermore, if the article X is affixed to the tape in a state wherein its front part is deformed, then it will become unattractive.

In that case, as schematically shown in FIG. 21, by using two rotary brushes B_(L), which each have a relatively large diameter d_(L), to handle bagged articles X that have a particularly thick trunk part X′ of thickness t, the front part of the trunk part X′ of each article X that contact the rotary brushes B_(L) is properly smoothed from above and below thereby, and therefore the problem discussed earlier no longer arises. For the sake of brevity, the stopper members are omitted in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21.

In addition, because the two rotary brushes 96 are each split into a plurality of split brushes 96 a (brush portions) spaced apart in an axial direction of the shafts 88, and stopper members 113 are disposed in the gaps provided between the split brushes 96 a, it is possible to avoid enlarging the spacing between the rotary brushes, which would be a risk if, for example, just one plate shaped stopper member were disposed between the pair of rotary brushes. Accordingly, because the thin transverse seal part X2 is prevented from entering between the stopper members 113 and one of the rotary brushes 96, it is possible to much more reliably restrain the transverse seal part X2 at the prescribed position. Furthermore, because the spacing between the two rotary brushes 96 does not increase, the effect wherein both rotary brushes 96 remedy any wrinkles or bends of the transverse seal part X2 is satisfactorily achieved.

Furthermore, because the top guide member 19 that guides the transverse seal part X2 to the space between the two rotary brushes 96 is disposed, it is possible to reliably prevent a problem wherein an article X that is particularly heavy at its rear part is transported at a particularly high speed by the second and third conveyors 12 and 13 to the receiving position P1, whereupon the lighter front part lifts up and the transverse seal part X2 thereby is not appropriately guided to the space between the two rotary brushes 96.

Referring now to FIG. 17, a modified structure of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 in which the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 is movable in a vertical direction will now be explained.

As shown in FIG. 17, a screw rod 132 is rotatably supported between two upper and lower support members 131, which are attached to the main body frame 6 a, and is threaded so that a block member 133 can be raised and lowered. In addition, a motor 134, wherein its output shaft is coupled to a lower end part of the screw rod 132, is attached below the lower support member 131. Furthermore, the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which has the stopper members 113 and the two upper and lower rotary brushes 96, is supported by the block member 133 via a bracket 135, which is L shaped in a side view.

Accordingly, when the drive of the motor 134 rotates the screw rod 132, the block member 133, which is screwed to the screw rod 132, is raised and lowered as indicated by the arrows A17 and AA17 between the positions indicated by the solid lines and the chain double dashed lines. Therefore, the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 is selectively raised and lowered. More specifically, the vertical positions of the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 are adjusted between the positions as indicated by, for example, solid lines and chain double dashed lines.

Because the vertical positions of the two rotary brushes 96 are adjustable with respect to the second and third conveyors 12 and 13 by the configuration described above, it is possible to accurately respond to changes in the height position of the transverse seal part X2 of the article X transported by the second and third conveyors 12 and 13.

Furthermore, the above explained an embodiment of the present invention based on the drawings, but the specific constitution is not limited to the embodiment illustrated herein, and it is understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, although the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 in the illustrated embodiment have the same diameter, they can have different diameters. In addition, although the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 make circumferential contact in the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 can be arranged so that the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 are capable of overlapping somewhat when viewed in a direction along an axial direction of the shafts 88. Overlapping the upper and lower rotary brushes. 96 greatly enhances the wrinkle smoothing effect.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiments, the stopper member 113 is installed in each gap between the split brushes 96 a that constitute the rotary brushes 96. However, the stopper member 113 can be installed in just one of the gaps.

In addition, although the lower rotary brush 96 is retracted from below the transverse seal part X2 of the article X when the third conveyor 13 drops the article X downward in the illustrated embodiment, the lower rotary brush 96 may be configured so that it pivots downward about the shaft 87, or the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, i.e., the entire wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, may be configured so that they both retract away from the transverse seal part X2.

In addition, although a flat plate shaped top guide member 19 is used in the illustrated embodiment, a conveyor system may be used that is provided with, for example, a round belt or a flat belt. In such a case, the transport of the article X is made smoother by equipping the top guide member with transport power.

In addition, although the illustrated embodiment was explained for bagged articles X, the present invention can be satisfactorily adapted to boxed articles or articles of another packaging configuration as well. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, even in the case of a boxed article Z that has a thin header part Z2 (projected portion), which projects from a trunk part Z′ and constitutes the region that is affixed to the tape T, the position of the header part Z2 is restrained by the contact between the header part Z2 and the stopper members 113 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18. Furthermore, even if there are wrinkles or bends in the header part Z2, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 satisfactorily solve these problems.

Furthermore, for example, in the case of the boxed article Z discussed above, instead of installing the stopper members 113 in the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, a stopper member 113′ that contacts the lower part of the tip part of the trunk part Z′ of the article Z may be attached to the side of the third conveyor 13, as shown by the addition of the chain double dashed lines in FIG. 18, as a substitute for the stopper members 113. Therefore, the header part Z2 of the article Z transitions to a free state in the forward direction, and is drawn through by the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, which promotes the wrinkle smoothing effect.

The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be widely adapted to the technical field of the apparatus.

GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the present invention, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of the manufacturing system equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to the manufacturing system equipped with the present invention as used in the normal riding position. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus configured and arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion on at least one end thereof at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article to a striped-shaped tape at a prescribed affixing position, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus comprising: a transporting mechanism configured and arranged to transport the article to the prescribed receiving position with the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front with respect to a direction of travel; a grasping section configured and arranged to grasp the projecting portion of the article that is transported by the transporting mechanism at the prescribed receiving position; a transfer mechanism configured and arranged to transfer the article from the prescribed receiving position to the prescribed affixing position in a state wherein the article is grasped by the grasping section; an affixing mechanism configured and arranged to affix the article to the stripped-shaped tape at the prescribed affixing position; and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism disposed at the prescribed receiving position and configured and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the projecting portion of the article.
 2. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a stopper member configured and arranged to restrain the projecting portion of the article at a prescribed position, and a pair of rotary brushes having rotary shafts disposed substantially parallel to each other, the rotary brushes being configured and arranged to sandwich the projecting portion therebetween and to rotate in a direction from a base part of the projecting portion toward a tip end of the projecting portion.
 3. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the transporting mechanism includes an end part disposed adjacent to the prescribed receiving position, the end part being configured and arranged to selectively switch between a holding state wherein the article is supported horizontally at the prescribed receiving position and a dropping state wherein the article is dropped downward from the prescribed receiving position, and the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to retract at least one of the rotary brushes disposed at a lower position than the projecting portion of the article away from the projecting portion when the article is dropped downward when the end part of the transporting mechanism is in the dropping state.
 4. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.
 5. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.
 6. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
 7. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
 8. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
 9. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
 10. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
 11. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
 12. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
 13. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.
 14. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.
 15. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.
 16. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes.
 17. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the rotary brushes. 